Phalenopsis orchid plant named &#39;Olivia&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Olivia’ particularly characterized by flowers which are white with a purple/violet haze and purple/violet stripes and a purple labellum; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

Phalaenopsis hybrid

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Olivia’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceae family, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Olivia’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceous perennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable for cultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantly epiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy, oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodial growth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. The leaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in the horticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for the florist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home or interiorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often with many showy flowers which open in succession beginning with the lowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; the lateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, is three-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flower segments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellow and red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexual propagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots which frequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. The resulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be planted in a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Olivia’ is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventor, René Schoone, in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by its attractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissue culture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging and shipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Olivia’ originated from a cross made by the inventor in 1999 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female or seed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Little Hatter’, unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Little Gem Stripes’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘Olivia’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2007 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culture was first performed in November, 2007 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Olivia’, which in combination distinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. flowers which are white with a purple/violet haze and purple/violet stripes and a purple labellum;

2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;

3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture;

4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and

5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.

In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Olivia’, the female parent ‘Little Hatter’ has white flowers with a red labellum and the male parent ‘Little Gem Stripes’ has light pink striped flowers and a purple labellum, whereas the flowers of ‘Olivia’ are white with a purple/violet haze and purple/violet stripes and a purple labellum.

Presently, there is no other commercial cultivar to which ‘Olivia’ can be meaningfully compared.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis ‘Olivia’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘Olivia’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of ‘Olivia’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical buds and flowers of ‘Olivia’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Olivia’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Olivia’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Olivia’ as grown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Olivia’ is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phase of ‘Olivia’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during the day and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Olivia’ are a minimum of 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizer with level of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration of growth of ‘Olivia’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used.

Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. The age of the ‘Olivia’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Little Hatter’, unpatented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated             ‘Little Gem Stripes’, unpatented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—tissue culture.         -   Rooting habit and description.—Fleshy; approximately 4 mm-7             mm wide and green in color (RHS 144A and RHS 148C); freely             branching. It takes 12 weeks for plants growing in tissue             culture to initiate roots. -   Plant:     -   -   Size at maturity.—Height: about 35 cm to 40 cm Spread: about             30 cm to 40 cm.         -   Growth habit.—small; dark green leaves and a relatively             large raceme.         -   Vigor.—moderate.         -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks             2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after             a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of             about 19° C. about 2 peduncles with flowers appear. -   Foliage:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 6 to 8 leaves are produced before             flowering.         -   Arrangement and attachment.—half up/horizontal and on two             sides.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—oval, the tip blunt and asymmetric.         -   Texture (upper & underside).—smooth and leathery.         -   Pubescence.—3 to 4 pairs of leaves.         -   Mature leaf length.—about 15 to 20 cm.         -   Mature leaf width.—about 8 cm.         -   Mature leaf thickness.—about 1.5 mm.         -   Mature leaf color.—upper side: green (RHS 137B) Under side:             yellow/green (RHS 146B).         -   Leaf base.—acute.         -   Margin.—entire.         -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel Color of midvein: upper side:             green (RHS 137A) under side: yellow/green (RHS 146A). -   Raceme:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—about 1 to 3.         -   Number of flowers per raceme.—about 10 to 25.         -   Length.—about 25 to 35 cm.         -   Diameter.—about 3 mm.         -   Strength.—strong.         -   Aspect.—upright.         -   Texture.—glabrous and smooth.         -   Color.—purple (RHS N77A) with yellow/green (RHS 144A).         -   Internode.—Length: about 25 mm to 35 mm. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—upright to slightly pendant, racemose             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.         -   Buds.—Height (from base to tip): about 10 mm to 15 mm             Diameter (at midpoint): about 10 mm to 15 mm Shape:             egg-shaped/oval Color: main color is yellow/green (RHS 149B)             with purple stripes and a purple haze (RHS N77B).         -   Flowering time.—For an untreated plant (flowering plant that             has not undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a             temperature of 18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after             a period of about 30 weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 2             racemes appear with about 16 to 20 flower buds and flowers             per inflorescence. First flowers can be expected             approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a plant with a             leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.         -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months;             lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed.         -   Fragrance.—no fragrance.         -   Flower.—Rate of opening: Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3             days after petal and sepal separation. Orientation at             opening: slanted upward and outward. Shape: see FIG. 2 Size:             Height: about 40 to 50 mm Diameter: about 45 to 55 mm Depth             of tube: about 8 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: six petals that are             trimerous, overlapping and arranged in 2 whorls. Petals are             more pronounced than sepals Arrangement: Inner whorl of             petals comprises 3 petals, 2 lateral petals and labellum. 2             lateral petals: Overall shape: little triangular and weakly             cupped Apex: round/oval Margin: entire and weakly undulate             Base: broadly ovate Length: about 26 mm Width: about 25 mm             Texture: Upper surface: smooth and satiny Under surface:             smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened): upper side:             edges are white (RHS NN155B). Veins are purple/violet (RHS             N80A) and a purple/violet haze (RHS N80C). Under side: edges             are white (RHS NN155B). At the base white (RHS NN155B) with             purple/violet (RHS N80D) and a purple haze (RHS N80C).             Middle vein is purple/violet (RHS N80A). the other stripes             are (RHS N80B and RHS N80C). Labellum: Overall shape:             3-lobed with 2 prominent callosities at central junction of             the lateral lobes and base of the midlobe. Lateral lobes of             labellum fold upward about the column; the midlobe extends             forward and is terminated by 2 short filiform appendages at             the apex. Lateral lobes of the labellum are ovate in shape             while the midlobe is triangular with a bump and a rib on it             Margin: entire and weakly undulate Apex: oval Length: about             18 mm Width (not flattened): about 15 mm Texture: Upper and             under surface: smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened):             Midlobe: upper surface: main color is purple (RHS N79B)             which runs into purple at the edges and the chirri (RHS             N81A). At the base some white (RHS NN155B) and yellow/orange             (RHS 15A). Under surface: Main color is white (RHS NN155B).             Outer edges are purple (RHS N81A) which runs into RHS N79C.             At the base some yellow (RHS 12A). Lateral lobs: upper             surface: main color is purple (RHS N79B). At the base some             white (RHS NN155C). At the end purple (RHS N81A). Under             surface: at the base grey/purple (RHS N187D) which runs into             RHS N187C) and into purple (RHS N79C) with a small white             edge (RHS NN155B). Chirri: about 8 mm (middle) color: purple             (RHS N79C) which runs into white (RHS NN155B) Pestle             (Callosities): Length: about 4 mm Width (not flattened):             about 3 mm Color: sides are white (RHS NN155C), the edges             and inside are yellow/orange (RHS 14A) with a purple spots             (RHS N79A).         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals. Overall             shape: oval; dorsal sepal is weakly cupped Margin: entire             and weakly undulate Length: about 24 mm Width: about 15 mm             Apex: oval and little pointy Texture: Upper and under             surface: smooth and satiny Color (when fully opened): upper             surface: Dorsal: The main color is purple (RHS N80C) the             edges are white (RHS NN155B) the stripes and veins are             purple (RHS N80A). Lateral: The main color is white (RHS             NN155B). Stripes are purple (RHS N80A) and a purple haze             (RHS N80C). At the base yellow/green mark (RHS 154D) with             purple spots (RHS N80A). Underside: Dorsal: edges are white             (RHS NN155D) with vague purple stripes (RHS 77A) and a             purple haze (RHS 77C). Lateral: Main color is white (RHS             NN155D). Vague purple stripes (RHS 77A) and a purple haze             (RHS 77C). At the base a vague yellow/green mark (RHS 151D). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a             single, short structure called the column, possessing one             terminal anther with pollen grains united into a pollinia,             which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located             under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior             with three carpels present. The plant has not produced seed.         -   Column.—Length: about 9 mm Diameter: about 3 mm Color:             purple/violet (RHS N80B) and white (RHS NN155B).         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: two Diameter: about 1 mm Color: orange             (RHS 24A).         -   Ovary.—Length: about 3 mm Diameter: about 4 mm Color: white             (RHS NN155B).         -   Pedicel.—Length: about 30 mm Diameter: about 3 mm Texture:             glabrous and smooth Color: from purple (RHS N77A) to purple             (RHS 77C) with a yellow/green haze (RHS 145B). -   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.     and to a high temperature about 30° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Olivia’, as illustrated and described herein. 